Last night saw the UK’s annual BRIT Awards return to The O2 arena in London – and the morning after the night before, there’s some good news for those behind the venue.
O2 and AEG have signed a new agreement for The O2 arena, which secures the telco brand as The O2’s naming rights partner for a further ten years.
The new partnership, which continues a relationship dating back to 2005, includes more perks for mobile customers of O2.
From 2018, double the number of tickets for O2 customers will be available via Priority Tickets, ensuring they get access 48 hours before general release.
Both O2 and AEG also say they will make joint investments to ensure O2 customer spaces, venue access and in-venue experiences are best in class.
These include providing high density O2 Wifi throughout the entire venue, facilities to host more customers and their guests pre-show, as well as the recently announced 205,000sq ft. designer outlet village, currently under construction and due to open in late 2018.
In addition, new technology installed in the arena will track and analyse crowd movements, revealing data. Stats regarding calories burned, noise generated and the most popular moments of shows will be shared with fans, who will be encouraged to share them via social media.
“From signing the deal back in 2005, O2 have become a significant and transformative force in the music business and our partnership has enabled countless benefits and experiences for their customers and all music, sports and entertainment fans.”
Paul Samuels, AEG Europe
Mark Evans CEO at O2 said: “We are incredibly proud of our highly successful partnership with AEG that has made The O2 into the internationally renowned music and entertainment venue it is today. Over the past ten years our work together has set an industry gold standard and it will continue to do so for the next ten years.
The new deal reaffirms our commitment to customers, with the number of tickets available to shows via Priority Tickets doubling – giving them access to tickets to unforgettable live experiences 48 hours before anyone else.”
Paul Samuels, Executive Vice President of AEG Europe said: “Together AEG and O2 have created the world’s most popular music and entertainment venue, now celebrating its 10th year of operation.
“From signing the deal back in 2005, O2 have become a significant and transformative force in the music business and our partnership has enabled countless benefits and experiences for their customers and all music, sports and entertainment fans.
We’re thrilled they’re committing to The O2 once again and know it will enable the venue to become even better for fans and the artists that play here. The O2 would not be the success it is without the support and commitment of our partners.”
Opening its doors to the public in 2007, the London venue has been officially crowned as the most popular arena globally in terms of ticket sales every year since.
Celebrating its tenth birthday in June this year, over 60 million people have visited The O2 and almost 20 million tickets have been sold for shows ranging from music to sport to live entertainment.
The O2 consists of the 21,000 capacity arena, indigo at The O2 – a 2,800 capacity theatre style venue and Building Six, a 3,000 capacity superclub.
Over the past ten years, the venue has hosted some of the world’s biggest stars and events from Beyoncé to Bob Dylan, the BRITs to Peter Kay and World Championship Boxing to the ATP World Tour Finals.
The deal was negotiated by AEG Global Partnerships, the team responsible for all sponsorships and partnership activations across AEG’s businesses in the UK and Europe.Music Business Worldwide
